Table of Contents...
Below is a list of chapters and sub-chapters to give you a feeling
of what's in the book.

Foreword

By
Sir George Martin

Introduction

The first time I
watched a really professional sound engineer I was completely
mesmerised and amazed. He made everything look so easy and
sound so incredible.

Why is it that thousands of engineers struggle to
get a decent sound while only a few dozen pull amazing sounds
whilst doing, apparently, almost nothing? I could never understand
how these great engineers made it look so easy. Were they
doing something I wasn’t or were they not doing
something I was?

As it turns out it was largely the frame of mind they were
in – which is great!, because changing your mind is
a whole lot easier (and less expensive), than refitting
your studio!

This is not a reference
book of basic acoustic theory, but instead a supplement that
concentrates on information that no one else will tell you
- trade secrets - answers to mysteries - unique solutions
- new perspectives - and above all, inspiration.

I don't like to
read much but I like to listen - so I'll try to keep this
succinct and packed with stuff you won't find anywhere else.
This contains jealously guarded trade secrets from many passionate
years of exploring the magic of sound - trying to discover
what makes the hairs on the back of our neck stand up.

I've spent the
last two years condensing this information to the max, so
you can just pick it up and transform your engineering ability
overnight to a more expensive, satisfying, and controlled
sound.

Setting
up the studio - Keep Your Distance

Begin with an empty room and an open mind
(and 1 speaker)
Filling an empty Studio - Speaker Placement & Ergonomics
Be The Flame

Mid - Tuning
Your Loudspeakers

Speakers are never perfect
Work coarse to fine
The Ribbon Effect
Why is this such a big deal?
Other placements destroy your ability to balance!
The most expensive measuring device on Earth

In the beginning there was sound… Bang!
Maximum Illusion / Minimum Voltage
Drum Placement - Get it Right From the Start
Overhead No. 1: Nailing It
Now for Overhead No. 2
Peak vs Texture
Basic law of psychoacoustics
Overhead Philosophy
The Importance of Bass
More Illusions please - less voltage
Textures & the Big Picture
Positioning - More Important than Mic Choice
Close Mic Placement
Hairs on the Back of your Hand
The Secret Move
The Puzzle
Working in the Zone - Blending Mics
The Zone of Fuzziness
Mismatching Mics is Okay
Bad Kit? No Such Thing
Double micing - Near & Far
Tape saturation vs peak limiting
Dynamic Processing Power
Bass Drum:
Snare Drums:
Cymbals - Capturing Even and Odd Harmonics
Maximum Illusion Challenge
Magic Hi-Hat
Toms
Key points to remember
The money is in the resonance.

The secret to understanding all control room
monitors
Stabilise Your Perspective
Stav's Reference
Listen & Learn
Creating Your Own Reference CD
Becoming an Acoustic Consultant
When To Use It
‘I would be lost without my reference CD’

Doorway
to Heaven

A Secret you’ll a’door -
to improve your nearfields
Stay in Control
The Phantom Strikes Again
Striking a Balance
One Last Point – Height Information
Party Time